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2 Sneeus-Sheet 1.

J. JOPLING, Deod.

M. JOPLING, executor. SUBMARINB BOAT.

No. 292,916. Etfl Patented Feb. 5, 1884.

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2 SheetsSheet 2.

Model J. JOPLING, D

M JoPpme, executor. SUBMARINE BOAT. No. 292.916. Patented Feb. 5, 1884.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JO lLIXU EXECUTOR OF SAID JO'PLIXG, DECEASED.

SUBMARINE BOAF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N6.

292,916, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed June 6, 1883. (No lllflllt'lJ To all whom, it may concern."

Be it known that l, .lnssn Jormxo, a citizen of the United States, residing near Longwood, in the county of lettis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

lVIyim-ention relates to improvements in the I construction of submarine boats, such as have been patented to me in Letters Patent of the l United States No. 173,018, ot'Fcbruary1,1876, I and No. 273,851, of March 13, 1883.

The object of my present invention is to improve the construction of the boat; to provide the boat with a means for operating on the outside in very deep Water without exposing the operator to undue pressure; to provide an improved means of preserving the air in the boat from contamination by the exhalations of the crew; to provide a reliable indicator as to the trim of the boat, and to provide a depth-gage which shall constantly indicate the amount of submersion of theboat in feet The novel features of my invention will be I hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which form ,a part of this specification, to which reference is made, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the boat, showing in a general way the arrangement of some of the parts, which arrangement, however, may be greatly varied. Fig. 2 is a crosssection ofthe same at about the middle ofthe boat, looking forward. Fig. 3 is a View of the device for operating through or under the boat. Fig. 4 represents the apparatus for restoring the air to purity after it has been breathed by the crew. Fig. 5 is the levelinginstrumcnt or swinging semicircle, Fig. 6 is a section of the depth-indicator. Fig. 7 shows the cap and pipe of the same. Fig. 8 is a face view of the depth-indicator, part being broken away.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, represents the hull of the boat, of the general construction described in my former patents. To the bottom of the cylindrical portion ofthe boat, and on its longitudinal center, the keel-railB is bolted. This keel-rail extends from end to end of this section, is fourteen inches wide, and is bolted edgewise on this section, and has each end beveled, so as to permitt-he boat to ride freely over irregularities on the water-bed. \Vhen all the fixtures have been put upon and in the boat and the water-chamber filled with water, the keel-rail should lack about onev thousand live hundred pounds of sinking the boat. This one thousand five hundred pounds will be made up of the weight of the crew and bags of sand, or other heavy material, to bring the boatto a proper trim. Then a very slight alteration of the water-ballast will cause the boat to rise or-sink in the water:

The keel-rail has the following points of excellence: First, it supplies an outside ballast, permitting so much more space in the boat; second, it aids in water-logging the boat; third, it holds the boat, when sunk to the bot tom, about fourteen inches above the waterbed, so as to permit operations through and under the boat; fourth, it furnishes a support for the lower end of guide-rod D; fifth, the ends of the keel-rail being beveled, the boat will ride over irregularities in the water-bed; sixth, it serves to hold the boat level laterally andprevents rocking and rolling; seventh. it prevents the bow pitching up or down too much forward or astern as the center of gravity is brought very low by the immense weight of the metallic keel-rail. The bottom of the keel-rail is broad enough to ailord a substantial support to the vessel, so that when the vessel is near enough to the bottom the keelrail will bear on the bottom with a basebroad enough to prevent the vessel from tipping over. The rail thus differs from an ordinary keel, in that it is really a standard or support for the vessel, and permits the workmen to 0p crate on the bottom while the boat stands upright on the said keel-rail. The curved bar D, one end of which is secured to the keel rail and the other to the upper portion of the boat, serves as a guide for the chain t, as shown in my Patent No. 273,851.

G designates the door or man-hole ot' the boat. II is the guard. Iis the propeller, and K the propeller-shaft of my boat.

\Vhen a boat is submerged to great depths, it becomes unsafe to use the flexible sleeves of my former patents, owing to the great prcssextending outside the boat, as shown in one ure of the water. I may therefore use a de vice similar to that shown in Fig. 3 for such operations.

M is a ball or sphere, preferably of metal,

which works in a ring, N, in the bottom of the boat. The ball can turn in the ring, but cannotescape therefrom, being packed with Babbitt metal or similar material, if necessary. The edges of the ring extend over the convex surface of the ball to retain it in position,but permit its movement.

0 is a tube extending through the ball M, and having at its outer end a scoop, fork, or other tool, 1. The tube 0 is really a lever forming the handle of the tool 1, and said tube may be moved outward and inward or otherwise manipulated by means of the handgrasp Q. The rod R passes through the tube 0, and has at its outer end a hoe or rake, S, which may be pivoted to the rod so as to swing or feather when thrust out, but to be rigid when drawn in, and may thus serve to rake or pull any obj eet within reach upon the scoop or fork 1.

tube 0 and rake S a very wide extent of movement is secured for the tools I S,which are outside the boat, the handles Q B being located where they can be readily manipulated by one of the crew in th'eboat. The tools may be used for drawing any object within reach of the grappling hook or chain 0. Thus heavy objects may be attached to the grapplin -chain and afterward raised to the surface. window in the boat permits the operator within to work the tools 1 S on the water-bed outside the boat with precision.

The apparatus for )urifying the air after it has been breathed is represented in Fig. 4.

a is'a vessel, which contains lime-water or similar chemical, which will serve to purify the air after it has been expired from the lungs.

21 represents an air-pump, which may be a simple bellows, like a blacksmiths bellows, having a central partition, I), and a valve, b, therein, which opens upwardly, but not downward. The pump or bellows may be operated by power in any suitable way, as by crank c.

(,onnected with the lower apartment of the air-pump or bellows are flexible pipes 01 d. To these pipes are attached elastic caps e e, which are intended to pass over the mouth, nose, and chin of the members of the boats crew. The caps c are divided by a partition, f, into two compartments, 9 and-h. A valve, i, opens from compartmentg into h, but does not permit the air to pass backward from h to g. A valve or valves, 'l.', permit thepassage of external air to the compartment, 9, but do not permit it to pass out again. The object of this purifying apparatusis to'save the lungs of the crew from the exertion of forcing the exhaled air into the lime-watervessel, which exertion is very detrimental to health and impossible to maintain for any great length of time. The cap 6 being applied over the '3y the rotation of the ball M and the outward and inward movement of mouth, chin, and nostrils, when the wearer takes in an inspiration of air from compartment the fresh air outside rushes in through valves 7: and supplies the lungs of the wearer. \Vheu the air is exhaled, (being vit-iated by the breathing) it passes into compartment I: through valve f. This compartment h is of such size as to contain a considerable quantity of air when expanded. As the air in 71 cannot return through valvef, it is gradually drawn along by the operation of the air-pump into the lower compartmentof the bellowsb. Here it passes through valve If, and is forced by the pressure of the weights 1)" through pipe a into the chemical contents of the vessel (1, whereit is purified, and thence escapes into the body of the boat. The capacity of the air-pump or bellows should be proportioned to the number of the crew oroccupants of the boat.

It will be understood that the construction of the air-pump and its attachments may be varied. The object of the device is to relieve the lungs of the crew of the eifort which is necessary to force exhalations of air through a body of water, and to throw this labor upon 1 the machinery of the boat. The bellows can be operated as fast or as slowly as may be found desirable.

The instrument for determining the trim of the boat is shown at X. In this the forked standard X, which may be supported on one of the water-ballast chambers of the boat, carries a crossbar, X", which supports a gradu ated semi-circle and a pendulum, X. The bar X is pivoted in'the arms of the standard, so as to keep the pendulum and semicircle in such position that they may swing simultaneously, and be free to move when the boat rolls. The straight side of the semicircle is set parallel with the longitudinal center of the boat, and, being pivoted in the support, is free to swing laterally on its pivots; but as it partakes of the longitudinal motion of the boat, and the pendulum remains always perpendicular, any variation of the center of the boat from the horizontal will be at once indicated by the pendulum on the graduated semicircle, and the pilot, by shifting ballast, as described in my former patent, may trim the boat and hold it in any degree of elevation or depression desired.

- To clearly indicate at'all times the depth of submersion of the boat, I have devised the depth-indicator or gage shown at \V. This indicator is operated by the pressure of the .water, which enters the pipe 1 from outside the boat. The mouth of pipe 1 is covered by guard 2, so that the currents of water shall be restrained from direct action on the gage, and no matter in which direction the boat is moving, or whether it be rising or fallin the wa ter, being forced to enter pipe 1 through a circuitous channel, will exert a practicallyeven pressure in said pipe proportioned to the depth to which the boat is submerged. The water in pipe 1 may propel the indicator or gage by any suitable connection. Ihave rep- IlO and is extremely sensitive;

resented it as entering a cylinder, 3, in which there is a piston, 4, having rod 5 and rack 6. The pressure of water on the piston 4 serves to force down said piston against the pressure of the air confined underneath. As the pressnre of the water lessens, the confined air will raise the piston. A spring may be substituted for the air-pressure. The nae-k6 engages pinion 7 on shaft 8, which propels gear 9, which engages a pinion on shaft 10 and turns said shaft, which bears an index-hand 11, similar to the minute-hand of a clock, only its revolution indicates fifty'feet. A suitable train of gearing, similar to that of a elock,drives the index-hand 12','which has the movement of the hour-hand of a clock, and registers the revolutions of the other hand. Thus when the boat descends fifty feet into the water the hand 11 will make a complete revolution, and will return to 0, while the hand 12 will register 50. As the boat rises or falls these two hands will accurately register the change of position. The doubleended hand 13 is geared to the clock-work mechanism in a manner similar to that of the second-hand of a clock, As the boat sinks in the water this hand will revolve rapidly in one direction, and as the boat rises will revolre in the other direction.

The operator will be able to determine at aglance, by means of this instrument, the depth of submersion of the boat in the water in feet, and also whether the vessel is rising or falling, and the rate of speed in either directionfbrif it be moving in aplane parallel with the surface of the water, and when the predetermined water-log'is maintained or lost. The gage is intended to work to depths of six hundred feet. The hand 12 registers multiples of fifty feet, and the hand 11 registers fifty feet or fractions thereof.

I am aware that it is not new to apply a keel to a submarine boat. I claim such only when made to form a broad hearing or support to the central portion only ofthe boat, as hereinafter set forth.

Having thus described my claim 1. In combination with the cylindrical portion ofa boat of the form described, and havinvention, I

ing tapering or conical ends, the straight nietallic keel-rail B, bolted externally to said cylindrical portion, having each end tapered, as described, so as to furnish a broad and stable bearing for the boat when resting on the ground, and also a support for lower end of guide-rod D, as set forth.

2. In combination with the bottom. of aboat, a tube extending through a ball in the bottom of the boat, and having out-and-in movement, saidball being mounted in a ring, so as to have universal movement and permit the ready manipulation of the tool, substantially as described. V V V In comliination-with a submarine boat, the improved level-indicator, consisting of the bar and semicircle suspended in forked arms, and the pendulum suspended from said bar, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

4. In combination with a submarine boat, an air-pump with mouth-piece and tubes to withdraw the air immediately as it is exhaled from the lungs of the crew, and force it through a receptacle of lime-water or similar substance, substantially in the manner stated.

5. In combination with a submarine boat provided with an air-pump, and means, such as described, for purifying air, a face cap' or cup to cover the nose, mouth, and chin of a person, said cap or cup divided into two parts by a partition, the part next the face having valves opening inward, and the partition having a valve opening toward the air-pump, as set forth.

6. In combination with a submarine boat, a tube leading to the outside of such boat, connections, substantially as described, for operating the indicator, and a clock-work indicator having hands to indicate in feet the depth of submersion, and a rotating hand to indicate the water-log and running-level of the boat, and the direct-ion and rapidity of vertical motion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JESSE JOPLIN G.

\Vitnesses:

J. W. GREEK, JOHN M. Saxsmsuun. 

